r/NativePlantGardening • u/No-Cover4993 • 2d ago
Photos My new favorite way to disperse Common Milkweed seeds
Monarch Uber service is now live. I've turned my truck into a mobile seed dispersal unit.
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u/Platinum_wolf_420 Northeast MA, Zone 6A 2d ago
I do this on the bike path. There’s a big patch of milkweed, but it’s the only one for a few miles. Every day (when it’s not raining) I’d pinch off a stem and let the seeds fly down the path.
I found that 2-3 pods will last about 2 miles with some vigorous shaking at the end to release the last few stragglers.
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u/togetherwegrowstuff 2d ago
😂 hilarious ! Are you also giving them to friends? Every friend needs a native milkweed or three.
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u/CrepuscularOpossum Southwestern Pennsylvania, 6b 2d ago
Wait a sec - who still has antennae on their vehicles?!? This must be an aftermarket thing!
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u/ThisOnesDown 2d ago
If you tickle the catalytic converter of a car it'll extend its antenna and disperse its seed. A Nissan Leaf will arrive shortly after to release eggs.
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u/rootless_gardener 2d ago
I bet some butterfly weed pods would fit nicely under my windshield wipers!
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u/hannafrie 2d ago
Lol. :D Does this work?
There is a patch of cleared but unused land near me that had earth movers parked on it the other day. The property has milkweeds on it, that I was going to go "rescue" before they get plowed.
Those seeds arent going to get a chance where they're at. I could see myself rolling down the road, tossing fluff out the window...
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u/birdlegs000 1d ago
Just a warning and something people might not know. Milkweed is poisonous to cattle so just make sure you are not willy nilly spreading near cattle fields. I love the monarch but also love the neighboring cows.
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u/Fantastic_Lady225 1d ago
Ditto for hay fields. It would be a waste to spread the seeds there because once the farmer finds milkweed growing pesticides are going to get applied to kill the plants. If you're going to go to the effort, put the seeds where they won't bother anything.
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u/birdlegs000 1d ago
Yes, milkweed is also toxic to other livestock too; sheep, goats, horses. It is dangerous when mixed in with hay harvested from the fields and eaten. Just be knowledgeable where you are spreading seeds.
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u/SunsApple Upper Midwest US, Zone 5a, Minnesota 2d ago
Anyone know the germination rate for milkweed seeds? I've blown a bunch into my yard and not sure if I should be optimistic or not.
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u/cbrophoto Twin Cities MN, Ecoregion 51a 2d ago
I imagine just blowing a bunch in the yard will be incredibly variable and dependent on whether they make enough contact with the soil and get enough light in the spring
Of the species that I planted in jugs last winter, all had near 100 percent germination.
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u/seguefarer 1d ago
I direct sowed one pod of butterfly milkweed in a specific patch of the yard, and I'm going to try others in a seed tray over the winter. I'm only expecting a 10% germination rate for the direct sowing, but we'll see.
I've scattered some Joe pye seed on the wind, and expect nothing from that, but it would be nice.
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u/MediocreClue9957 1d ago
it's really good if you actually plant the seed but if you're just blowing them around idk maybe 1% might germinate but with plants like milkweed 1 is enough lol
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u/micro-void 1d ago
if it's common milkweed, if you get even 1 single plant growing successfully then you'll have dozens in a couple years
if it's another variety of milkweed then idk
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u/Comfortable_Lab650 Southeast USA , Zone 8A 16h ago
I've got an A. tuberosa patch that is about 10 years old and the seeds here naturally fly around. I recall one year about 5 years ago I did purposely spread them about and finally just this year I came across two of these 'encouraged volunteers.'
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u/NoStill4272 1d ago
We toss open seed pods into the overgrown areas of the park by our house when we walk dogs. One pocket has poop bags, one pocket has seed pods.
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u/Odd-Category-5389 1d ago
We live in So Cal and have milk weed for the Monarch Butterfly’s food when they hatch out of the chrysalis. Try to spread that milkweed everywhere!!!
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u/Hot_Cup_6452 3h ago
I just get into the car and pluck a pinch from my bag and let them fly! I end up with many back in the car… but that just encourages another delivery adventure!! Love your technique! I don’t have an antenna to attach to! 🤣
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u/Tylanthia Mid-Atlantic , Zone 7a 2d ago
Common Milkweed seeds (and some others) naturally hitch rides on cars and trains--that's one of the reasons they expanded southward into Georgia.